also: ひがしかぜ · とうふう · こちかぜ
east wind; spring wind
Refers to a wind blowing from the east. In classical and poetic contexts, it is associated with spring and carries a gentle, warm nuance. The reading こち is especially poetic.
The east wind is strong today, so the sea is rough.
When spring comes, the east wind carries the scent of flowers.
北風 and 東風 are both directional wind terms with a similar structure, but 北風 comes from the north and brings cold, while 東風 comes from the east and often brings rain or signals a season change.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading ひがしかぜ is the most common modern pronunciation.
Classical reading, often used in poetry or traditional contexts.
Sino-Japanese reading, mainly found in literary or technical contexts.
Uncommon hybrid reading; rarely used in modern Japanese.
The kanji 東 (east) and 風 (wind) directly combine to mean 'east wind'. The reading ひがしかぜ is a straightforward kun'yomi compound. The reading こち is a native Japanese word for east wind, often used in classical poetry.